Fraternities and Sororities

Barnes & Thornburg serves as legal and business counsel for national fraternities and sororities. Our team consists of lawyers who not only provide counsel on areas most critical to fraternal organizations – nonprofit governance, real estate, labor and employment, nonprofit tax law, business contracts, and intellectual property – but also understand in depth the unique environment in which fraternity and sorority clients operate.

We assist fraternities and sororities with issues such as:

Local and national housing corporation issues

Governance documents such as constitutions, bylaws, and policy manuals

Member discipline and other membership issues at all levels

Obtaining and maintaining tax-exempt status, and responding to related government inquiries

Drafting, review and administration of contracts with vendors and other business associates

Host college and university relations and contracts

Various issues related to the single sex nature of many of our clients in a rapidly changing legal environment related to such issues

Intellectual property issues such as license agreements for the distribution of products

Web development, licensing and other technology-related agreements

The firm’s national footprint, breadth of resources, and focus on value provides a platform that is ideally suited to cost-effectively address the wide range of issues fraternities and sororities face.